There has been a strong push by Australian Sailing and local sailing clubs to encourage girls to take up the sport, which allows females to compete alongside males on an equal footing.
Programs such as Tackers, Smooth Sailing and club Learn-to-Sail courses are available for all children, with entry starting at age seven. Despite this, six-year-old Emmet Evans recently competed in the Novice fleet at the Australian Minnow Championship held at Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club.
Several girls also made their mark, competing across both the Open and Novice fleets. Neave Murphy sailed in both the Invitational race and the full Open series, finishing sixth overall and earning the title of Open Female Australian Minnow Champion. In the Novice fleet, Charlotte D’Amore secured a third-place finish, claiming the Novice Female Australian Minnow Champion award.
The Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club will be running a Smooth Sailing course over the Easter holidays, similar to the Tackers program, where boys and girls can develop sailing skills in a fun, social environment.
For more information, contact the Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club.
